Will’s Word: Wellington’s heart beats stronger than ever

I had a big, long weekend, I'll be honest: out and about in Wellington, checking out gigs, food spots, the whole shebang, just soaking it all in.

It reminded me why I love this place so much. If anything, I'm more convinced than ever that Wellington is still cool as hell.

I know the headlines - the public sector's been hit hard, the council's a bit of a mess, and it can feel like everything's falling apart sometimes. But to me at least, Wellington is far from dead.

The city is alive. It's creative, it's welcoming, it lets people just be who they are. You can walk down Cuba Street wearing whatever the hell you want, holding whoever's hand you want and nobody bats an eye in this city.

That kind of acceptance, you don't get everywhere. Don't even get me started on the arts, the vibes here are strong: music, theatre, design, random pop-up stuff in alleyways sometimes.

People are doing things here because they love it, it's raw and it's real. The cultural mix here is amazing, I walked along Newtown on the weekend and heard a range of different languages in one cafe. I walked into a bookstore that had books that represented many cultures.

There are events that actually reflect the people who live here. It's vibrant and it's full of life. Reignited my love for this city, the long weekend has.

I just will not and will never get or understand the slander that this city cops. Maybe some folks want to be negative, but if you think Wellington's boring or dying, I'd argue you're just not looking in the right places.

It's a wholesome city, a city that still slaps.

That's Will’s Word.

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